Prevalence and Predictors of Text-Based and Visually Explicit Cybersex among Adolescents

Abstract

This study investigates different types of cybersex behaviours among adolescents and examines whether the compensation and recreation hypothesis remain valid explanatory models in a context of more explicit types of cybersex. An online survey was completed by 594 adolescents (ages 15–18). Results show that engagement in both text-based and more visual types of cybersex appears to be remarkably common among adolescents. It was further tested whether text-based sexually arousing online conversations are more prevalent among socially anxious adolescents and whether more visual types of online sexual communication are more prevalent among adolescents with low levels of social anxiety, or whether these cybersex behaviours need be seen as a response to a need for sensation. Findings indicate that socially anxious adolescents are less inclined to engage in more visual cybersex with a dating partner and that sensation seeking explains boys’ involvement in text-based sexually arousing communication.